Determining fast particle behavior in a reactor-relevant Quasi-Axisymmetric stellarator equilibrium

January 17, 2023

Princeton Stellarators, Inc. (PSI) will collaborate with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) to analyze fast particle behavior in candidate stellarator equilibria. Particles of very high energy are introduced into fusion reactors in several ways, notably as the product of fusion reactions and injected via Neutral Beam Injectors. Historically, the stellarator concept of plasma confinement has had difficulty confining these fast particles. Recently, stellarator equilibria have been developed that so precisely exhibit a property known as quasi-symmetry that they are expected to confine the large majority of fast particles. PSI has identified such an equilibrium as the starting point of its reactor design. In this project, PPPL will analyze the behavior of fast particles in this equilibrium and subsequent versions. This will allow PSI to develop better equilibria, and allow PSI’s reactor design to proceed to a much higher fidelity in several important ways.